ABSTRACT
The definition of a country's foreign political aims is generally a function of its domestic political decision-making processes. It results from the interplay between political elites and public opinion, under the basic conditions set by the respective political system. First and foremost, the Federal Republic's interests are determined by its domestic political structures and geopolitical position. Maintaining the standards of a free society is the highest priority for the Federal Republic. This is true for elites as well as for the general public. West Germany's geopolitical position at the border of the Soviet empire illustrates the immediate threats facing it as a free society. For the development of relations between the US and the Federal Republic of Germany and towards the Soviet Union, it is important that interests are basically parallel and stable, as has been demonstrated by the continued high support for the deployment of American troops in Germany and for alliance membership.
